New Releases | 3/3/10 | Bought & Thoughts

[Dave A]

Interesting thoughts, Jim... I guess I've gotten so used to the photoshop blurs, I didn't even notice them. I thought the art looked gorgeous, some of the best I've seen from Rags (especially in the past couple years). I'll have to take another look tonight.

As for Azz's script, it's definitely a first chapter, but what I really liked about it is that all of the characters (none of whom I have any history with whatsoever) were unique and immediately identifiable. I can't give him complete credit, as I'm sure none of these characters is being cut from whole cloth, but one of the things I like best about Azz's work is how much character he can convey in a very little amount of space. I was already invested in everybody by the end of the first issue, and that, to me, is what this chapter was meant to do.

[JimN]

Interesting thoughts, Jim... I guess I've gotten so used to the photoshop blurs, I didn't even notice them.

They've become a pet peeve of mine so they tend to jump out at me.

I thought the art looked gorgeous, some of the best I've seen from Rags (especially in the past couple years). I'll have to take another look tonight.

Rags' work really impressed me and I'm probably being a little too tough on the colorist. There are sequences in the book that are colored nicely. I just thought some of it was too dark, particularly panels set in the jungle.

As for Azz's script, it's definitely a first chapter, but what I really liked about it is that all of the characters (none of whom I have any history with whatsoever) were unique and immediately identifiable. I can't give him complete credit, as I'm sure none of these characters is being cut from whole cloth, but one of the things I like best about Azz's work is how much character he can convey in a very little amount of space. I was already invested in everybody by the end of the first issue, and that, to me, is what this chapter was meant to do.

I agree. I think his job was made a little easier in this case by Will Eisner and Lester Dent, who imbued all these characters with distinct personalities in the first place. Thats aid, it would be easy enough to screw that up and Azzarello didn't. Since it sounds like you haven't read any Doc Savage books let me assure you, this story is starting just like a good Doc Savage novel. That makes me happy.

Jim

[Richard]

NEED MOAR CORBEN!!!

RECOMMENDATIONS!!!

NAO!!!


Please. 

[Dave A]

NEED MOAR CORBEN!!!

RECOMMENDATIONS!!!

NAO!!!


Please. 

Did you check out the recent Starr mini from Marvel Max? By Daniel Way and Corben. It was pretty fun! 

He also did a Hellblazer arc, the one where Conjob went to prison.

And, you know, 500,000 other things I can't come up with off the top of my head for some reason.

[VinceB]

NEED MOAR CORBEN!!!

Corben checklist
 

[Richard]

Did you check out the recent Starr mini from Marvel Max? By Daniel Way and Corben. It was pretty fun! 

He also did a Hellblazer arc, the one where Conjob went to prison.

I shall check them out, good sir. 

Corben checklist
 

Thanks Vince. 

[Richard]

Which are his best works? 

 
   

[Farrell]

Which are his best works? 

 
   

Vince might step in here and squish me with only his thumb, but Corben, although a fantastic and unique artist, is not and never has been a writer.  So stuff like Den is for fans only, IMO.  He has been paired with some good writers over the years, though, and done several adaptations, and that's what I'd look for.  Guys like Jan Strnad and Mike Mignola.  Speaking of Mignola, you could do much worse than to start with Hellboy: The Crooked Man.  Once you find out you like his art (you better!  ), see if you can find a good price on House on the Borderland cause that thing is insane is the best way.

[JimN]

Vince might step in here and squish me with only his thumb, but Corben, although a fantastic and unique artist, is not and never has been a writer.  So stuff like Den is for fans only, IMO.  He has been paired with some good writers over the years, though, and done several adaptations, and that's what I'd look for.  Guys like Jan Strnad and Mike Mignola.  Speaking of Mignola, you could do much worse than to start with Hellboy: The Crooked Man.  Once you find out you like his art (you better!  ), see if you can find a good price on House on the Borderland cause that thing is insane is the best way.

Those are both excellent recommendations. I'd recommend Hellboy: Makoma, Hard Time (the Hellblazer story he illustrated) and his adaptations/interpretations of Lovecraft too. As I recall, he worked on some well-written stories for Warren too.

I Corben.

Jim

[HooHaH!]

Which are his best works? 

 
   

If you don't mind looking for back issues:

Pacific Comics Twisted Tales #s 1, 3 and 5 (Cheap)
Pacific Comics Fall of House of Usher one-shot (Cheap)
Warren's Comix International #1 (Expensive, but it contains most of his best Warren work in one place)

Marvel published Haunt of Horror last year, a trade collecting some Poe and Lovecraft work.

There was also a very cool oversized trade of his Poe adaptions published 15 or 20 years ago which shouldn't be too hard to find (type poe and corben into ebay).

[Richard]

Vince might step in here and squish me with only his thumb, but Corben, although a fantastic and unique artist, is not and never has been a writer.  So stuff like Den is for fans only, IMO.  He has been paired with some good writers over the years, though, and done several adaptations, and that's what I'd look for.  Guys like Jan Strnad and Mike Mignola.  Speaking of Mignola, you could do much worse than to start with Hellboy: The Crooked Man.  Once you find out you like his art (you better!  ), see if you can find a good price on House on the Borderland cause that thing is insane is the best way.

Speaking of Hellboy, I read Hellboy Volume 1: Seed of Destruction and Wake the Devil and freakin' loved it. I'd like to ask a question though, seeing as you're the the go-to-guy on all Hellboy related matters. Do you have to be familiar with the rest of the collected Hellboy material to fully appreciate or understand the B.P.R.D. series?

And thanks for the recommendations, Farrell. 

[Richard]

Thanks for the recommendations, JimN and HooHah!

Have some Karma.

[Sean M.]

Dead Ahead #3 finally came out  The story/ sequential art seems to go missing about 2 pages in and is replaced by some of the most blindingly grotesquely amazing Alex Nino art ever using astoundingly bizarre graphic language. First comic I've read in a while where I didn't care about the story and just wanted to stare at the pretty pictures.(although looking at the sketches at the back, I kind of wish it had been in black and white)
Sweet Tooth #7 -Started slow, but this is simply perfection. Lemire is a God (and one of the characters looks like the King Mob sketch he did for me but with a moustache).
Demo #2- I loved Demo and this is at the same level- masterful.
Underground #5- Started strong, didn't care much for the ending- the resolution seemed to undercut the issues raised in the first parts.

And picked up Orc Stain #1- after the rave reviews (and I saw Stokoe's poster in McSweeneys 33)-It happily lived up to them.

[Farrell]

Speaking of Hellboy, I read Hellboy Volume 1: Seed of Destruction and Wake the Devil and freakin' loved it. I'd like to ask a question though, seeing as you're the the go-to-guy on all Hellboy related matters. Do you have to be familiar with the rest of the collected Hellboy material to fully appreciate or understand the B.P.R.D. series?

I think that's actually Jim N. but sure. 

You should be able to jump into the B.P.R.D. series and understand it just fine.  Although I'd expect you'll want to read them both since you loved the Hellboy you read, yeah?

It's been asked and answered a few times here already, but since I don't know if you've seen those posts: I'd start with "Plague of Frogs" when you do read B.P.R.D.  It's not the first story, but the previous ones are pretty disposable.  If you decide to be a completist can go back and grab them later.

[Parker]

That's good to know.  Seems to be getting positive reviews so good on Valerie.

I'd never head of her before, but these one shots are usually good reads. Mayberry's Naked Kill was great, but this issue is oh my god. I'm gonna go read it again

[Richard]

I think that's actually Jim N. but sure. 

Stop being so modest. 

You should be able to jump into the B.P.R.D. series and understand it just fine.  Although I'd expect you'll want to read them both since you loved the Hellboy you read, yeah?

It looks like I'll be reading them both.

It's been asked and answered a few times here already, but since I don't know if you've seen those posts: I'd start with "Plague of Frogs" when you do read B.P.R.D.  It's not the first story, but the previous ones are pretty disposable.  If you decide to be a completist can go back and grab them later.

I'll be sure to check out Plague of Frogs first then.

Have some Karma. 

[slurmo]

 
I'll be sure to check out Plague of Frogs first then.

yeah, I'd start there too, the first collection is really hit and miss (mostly miss) and trust me I wanted to love those stories, because I've been there since day one, but I feel that if you started on the first one you might not make it to Plague of Frogs. I don't think it's any fault of the creators involved, they just lacked the focus and characterization of the "ongoing".

all that said. You're gonna have a great time reading BPRD, it's an amazing book (in fact, I like it better than Hellboy right now, shh don't tell anyone I said that)

[David]

I'd never head of her before...

That might be because this and a story in Girl Comics #1 are her first published comic book works as a writer.  X-Men Origins: Emma Frost will hit the stands in May.

[BurlIves]

Speaking of Mignola, you could do much worse than to start with Hellboy: The Crooked Man. 

On this we can agree wholeheartedly.    Great little story, very creepy, and the art just sells it.  More than anything, this arc got me back into buying books regularly after a hiatus.

[BurlIves]

Only boughts so far, no thoughts yet:

Daytripper #3
Detective Comics #862
First Wave #1
Green Hornet #1
7 Soldiers of Victory vol.1